Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

Originally Posted by southerngardens

Because of its alcohol content, perfume is considered a hazardous material for shipping purposes. That’s why USPS has modified the Retail Customer Experience HAZMAT question to help employees understand whether a customer’s package contains perfume.

Retail associates must not accept packages containing perfume to be mailed internationally or to an APO/FPO or DPO location, regardless of its quantity or mail class.
When sent domestically, perfume also cannot be mailed using Express Mail, Priority Mail or First-Class Mail. But a package may be sent if it meets the following conditions:

· The customer confirms the perfume is sufficiently cushioned to prevent damage.

· The container is strong enough to prevent damage during normal handling.

· The package is marked “Surface Only” or “Surface Mail Only.”

Customers can ship only one bottle of perfume in a single mailpiece. Gift sets containing more than one bottle of perfume, regardless of ounces per bottle, are non-mailable. The perfume bottles must be separated and mailed as individual mailpieces.

For more information, please refer to the DMM, Pub.52 or a BMEU manager

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

I think it is a completely stupid rule, I mean they sell perfumes on planes and you can carry them on in your luggage so what is the problem?

My only worry is if customs discover fragrances destined for airmail / arrived at the destination country via airmail, will they destroy it?

I went to a different post office in Belfast than normal, when shipping a decant. Was asked what I was posting, said as usual, "It a sample of foundation". Was told you cannot post it!!!!!!! Walked out and went to another post office said foundation, no problems. My normal post office the woman behind the counter just says, sending samples, I reply yes. No problem, never has been.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

My local post office has, for a few years now, had a sign posted with pictures and text description of things, including perfume, that couldn't be shipped by Priority Mail. I've used a few priority return labels for fragrances and never even been asked what the package contained. I've not shipped anything since the beginning of the year but will keep this in mind the next time I do have something to send.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

As an update, I went to my city's main post office with a cologne in a plain brown box. The counter person went through the standard question -- flammable, hazardous, or perishable -- then asked the new question I've been getting since the 1st of the year: any lithium batteries or perfume. When I said yes (I'm not going to lie), I had to ship via ground. At least this time I knew that was likely, and didn't use the dedicated priority box.

The clerk confirmed that this is something the post office cracked down on as of January 1st. It may have been a rule before then, but the clerks weren't specifically asking about it. Now they are.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

USPS as a company doesn't care what you're shipping. It's the airlines that created the "no fragrance" rule. Since USPS piggybacks their packages onto commercial planes, they must follow the airline company rules.

It's dumb that they still allow you to carry several ounces of fragrance with you or in your luggage though.. or maybe they've stopped allowing it since Jan 1st?

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

The fact that this change is as of jan 2013 explains a lot. I am preparing to ship some fragrances and had googled this but did not remember it being the case the last time I did a swap. Looks like USPS ground from here on out.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

Originally Posted by JiveHippo

Crazy. With the current financial state of the USPS, you would think they would want all the business they can get...guess not.

Well they figured out how to increase their profits. Raise the rates of International mailing through the roof. Last month I could mail Small Flat Rate Priority Mail box to Canada for $12.95. Price today is now $19.95. Holy cow, not the 7-9% increase they talked about.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

Originally Posted by PalmBeach

Well they figured out how to increase their profits. Raise the rates of International mailing through the roof. Last month I could mail Small Flat Rate Priority Mail box to Canada for $12.95. Price today is now $19.95. Holy cow, not the 7-9% increase they talked about.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

Originally Posted by JiveHippo

Really...well, bad news for the Basenotes marketplace.

It's been a pleasure swapping with you guys down there lol.

What it means, we'll have to start using first class mail more often. The problem with First Class Mail, you will not know the exact weight until the item is mailed, so it is a guessing game what the postage will be.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

Originally Posted by PalmBeach

What it means, we'll have to start using first class mail more often. The problem with First Class Mail, you will not know the exact weight until the item is mailed, so it is a guessing game what the postage will be.

I just got back from the post office and was told that in order to ship perfume it has to go ground only and that they not only xray/scan packages but they also randomly open them to see what's inside. She warned me that if I lie about a package they'll find out and I could go to jail. It's a federal law, federal offence and they have cracked down starting Jan 1st of this year. Scare tactic? yes maybe.... I asked if I ship it ground what do I write on the box? I asked if I am suppose to write "ORM-D" And she said no, you have to have a special label, writing will not do, they won't accept it. She said to go to some website (I managed to forget all of that info on the way home) and that I can print the photo and make my own labels or I can buy them. Ok so even if you write "Surface Mail Only" on the box, and "Fragile" you still need that ORM-D Sticker.

I have perfume that I need to sell and ship and my buyers do not want to pay an arm and a leg to have it shipped to them, nor do they want to wait two weeks to get it. I'm not sure what to do. I've read so many forums where people say to just "LIE". But if you lie and something happens, guess who they go after!!! There are heavy fines for doing that and possible jail time. Ignorance of the laws/rules is no exscuse. Besides I hate lying and won't do it.

A friend wants to buy three bottles of my perfume. The bottles are 3.3 oz each, and according to what I read here you can't send them all together in the same box? She is not going to want to pay for three packages to be shipped. How crazy when they all fit in a tiny box. This is stressing me out.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

Originally Posted by claudiabarclay

A friend wants to buy three bottles of my perfume. The bottles are 3.3 oz each, and according to what I read here you can't send them all together in the same box? She is not going to want to pay for three packages to be shipped. How crazy when they all fit in a tiny box. This is stressing me out.

Claudia

Pack the real good and take them to the UPS store or FedEx store. They won't ask any questions. Just make sure to ship them ground.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

My local UPS store recently asked me "What's in the package?" When I told them the truth they told me they couldn't ship it and that I would have to take it to another UPS store many miles away that was able to handle fragrances. They wouldn't even ship it UPS Ground.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

You know, after spending HOURS online looking up "how to ship perfume using the USPS" I have found it seems each state/post office makes up their own mind what you can and can not send. Noone seems to have the actual facts. I don't use UPS or FedEx. They are expensive.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

I asked if I am suppose to write "ORM-D" And she said no, you have to have a special label, writing will not do, they won't accept it. She said to go to some website (I managed to forget all of that info on the way home) and that I can print the photo and make my own labels or I can buy them.

Jeeze, you go to the Post Office, and they can't even provide a person with the proper "official" materials needed to comply with their own shipping requirements ?

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

Similar regulations just went into effect in Europe. Perfumes can no longer be sent via airmail. If you think ground shipping is bad imagine the implications for overseas shipments.

Originally Posted by donna255

On the front page of Les Senteurs they have a notice suspending all international shipping. They are trying to find a courier who will do it for them. New EU rules came in it seems on the 14th Jan, which will effect worldwide perfume shipping through the postal services.

For clarification, the regulations you refer to apply to United Kingdom, since Royal Mail no longer accepts international shipments containing alcohol (as of 2013-01-14). There are no EU-wide regulations that apply to shipping perfume and similar goods, at least not on the scale of online shopping.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

I was sending mail (forwarding) to England from my home in the US. It was to my brother who had recently moved. He had been staying with me. I put it all in an envelope and took it to the post office. The clerk asked if there was a note (to my brother) inside. I stupidly told the truth and said, Yes. Whereupon he snatched the envelope from me and said it would cost $5.00 to send. I should have taken it back and walked away but I was so stunned I just paid the fee. He actually smirked at me! I was so annoyed I never went back. Now I always go to a mailing service shop- Mail Plus. They never ask what's in the package, I mark it. 'Fragile' and everything has gone smoothly.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

Yes, I had the impression it would have been next to nothing or even a service offered by the post office if I hadn't written a personal letter. Anyway, they also always ask if there's anything liquid or hazardous while the Mail Plus place never does.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

Didn't know about that..next, they may ask, 'So, what exactly did you write to him?'.
Never been asked about any notes either. Once, I was sending baby clothes to someone..in the same state. I go to ship it and she feels the package..it's soft cause there is clothing in there..apparently, she didn't like that, looked at me strange and asked what was in it. 'It's baby clothes.'..I wanted to proceed with..'is that ok to you?' I got a bit mad about that one.

Re: USPS and mailing fragrances

Yes, I had the impression it would have been next to nothing or even a service offered by the post office if I hadn't written a personal letter.

That seems a bit absurd to me. Legit or not, how much extra weight could that note have added?

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